Perpetual calendar, operated by a magnet

ABSTRACT

A perpetual calendar operated by a magnet comprises at least a rectangular plane support member, provided on one face with ribs parallel with its edges and defining a seat for an opaque sheet which bears, in transparent characters and on several horizontal rows, the indications relating to the names of the days of the week, the days of the months, and the names of the months. The portion of the said support member covered by the opaque sheet has as many grooves as the rows of indications, and in every groove is placed a magnetized plate the surface of the magnetized plate facing the sheet is coloured and the magnetized plate may be moved along the groove by means of a magnet for displaying by means of the coloured face the elements constituting a date.

MEL Aumeee oernov @Yg aten [111 3,827,168 Aug. 6, r974 PERPETUAL CALENDAR, OPERATED BY A 860,290 7/1949 Germany 40/107 MAGNET 62,630 2/1955 France 40/109 [76] Inventor: Gian Luigi Mori, Via Maria Cristina Primary Exammer-Robert W. Michell Pmo Tonnesc (Tumn [my Assistant Examiner-l H. Wolff [22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 349,439 57 ABSTRACT A perpetual calendar operated by a magnet comprises [30] Flrelgn Apphcauo Pnomy Data at least a rectangular plane support member, provided Apr. 7, I972 Italy 68062/72 on one face with ribs parallel with its edges and defining a seat for an opaque sheet which bears, in transl Cl 142 A parent characters and on several horizontal rows, the [51] Int. Cl. G09d 3/00 indications relating to the names of the days of the Field of Search 142 week, the days of the months, and the names of the 35 35 283/2 months. The portion of the said support member covered by the opaque sheet has as many grooves as the [56] References Cited rows of indications, and in every groove is placed a UNlTED STATES PATENTS magnetized plate the surface of the magnetized plate 3 001 308 9/196 Potter 40/110 facing the sheet is coloured and the magnetized plate {6701435 6/l972 Steward ::::::::::::.::::::::Ifllb/I42 A may be moved along the groove y means Ofa magnet for displaying by means of the coloured face the ele- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS ments constituting a dam 1,098,735 3/1955 France 40/107 1,579,280 7/1969 France 35/7 A 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 4 1 2 I Hull Hl um I l k V I H s N r 1:; was manna SAT suns 1 t 11 I a s 44 a e \7 a l s 9 MD H2 I13 U4 ll5 11% n7 is is at an 22 2s aa @5 2( 27 8 3@ 3? I is 11AM rs MAR? PA MAY N PERPETUAL CALENDAR, OPERATED BY A MAGNET The present invention relates to a perpetual calendar operated by a magnet.

The calendar according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a support member, preferably of rectangular shape, which has near its edges a rib or frame parallel to said edges, which internally defines a rectangular space in which a sheet is placed which bears, on several parallel rows, the indications of the names of the days of the week, of the numbers of the days of the month, and of the names of the months.

Advantageously said sheet is opaque, and the indications borne by it are traced in transparent characters.

Within the space defined by said rib, the surface of the support member is provided with horizontal grooves, whose number is the same as that of the rows bearing the indications, and in every groove a magnetized plate is placed, having the side facing said sheet coloured, and which magnetized plate is moved within its respective groove by means of a magnet in order to display an element of the date which it is desired to show.

According to a first embodiment said calendar is a wall calendar, and on the back of said support member means are provided which allow to hang it on a wall.

According to a second embodiment said calendar is a table calendar, and said support member is a prism having a first face for receiving the opaque sheet, whereof a second face adjacent with said first face forms the supporting base. Preferably said prism hyphen like support member is a triangular prism.

Further characteristics of the invention will clearly result from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the calendar according to the invention, in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along line 11 ll of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a magnetizable plate;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the use of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a calendar according to the invention, in a second embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the calendar according to the invention comprises a support member I, preferably of plastic material and of substantially rectangular shape, which has on one face a projecting rectangular frame 2, whose sides are parallel to the sides of the support member 1.

The frame 2 defines internally an area 3 wherein a sheet 4 is placed, which has a size substantially coinciding with that of area 3 and bears, in several parallel rows, the indications of the days of the week, of the days of the month and of the months. Preferably said sheet 4 is a sheet of opaque plastics, and the indications of the days and of the months are traced in transparent characters, in such a way as to leave an opaque margin at least at one side of the sheet.

Still preferably said indications are arranged in seven horizontal rows, the upper row of which bears the names of the days of the week, the two lowest rows the names of the months, and the intermediate rows the numbers of the days of the month.

The surface of support member 1, in the area 3, is divided by horizontal ribs 6 parallel with the major sides of the support member 1, into horizontal grooves 7. The number of grooves 7 is the same as that of the rows on the sheet 4 bearing the indications. A plate 8 made of magnetic material, whose outer face 9 (FIG. 3) is coloured, is placed in each of said grooves 7, and said plate 8 may be moved, by means of a magnet 5, under any of the transparent indications in sheet 4 thereby clearly displaying said indication. Ribs 6 prevent the magnetic plates 8 from moving in a direction other than the horizontal.

Means, not shown in the drawings, are provided for receiving the magnet 5 when it is not in use.

The way in which the calendar according to the invention is used is as follows:

when a date, for instance Monday, 1st January, is to be shown, by means of the magnet 5 one moves under the indications Monday, 1, January the magnetic plates 8 in the grooves 7 behind the rows on sheet 4 bearing said indications (FIG. 4), which are thus displayed by the coloured surface 9. The remaining magnetic plates, 8 corresponding to the unused rows, will remain, or will be moved, behind the opaque end margin of sheet 4.

A calendar like that of FIG. 1 is suitable for being used as wall calendar, and then it will be provided with means, not shown in the drawings, which allow to hang it on the wall.

In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the calendar according to the invention may be used as a table calendar.

In this case support member 1 is a prism 10, preferably with triangular transverse cross section, whereof another face 11, adjacent to sheet 4, is the supporting surface of said calendar.

It is self evident that the above description is given only by way of non limitative example, variants and modifications being possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A perpetual calendar comprising:

a. a support member having a forwardly directed surface;

b. a substantially opaque sheet in superimposed relation with said surface of said support member, said sheet having several horizontal rows of indicia thereon, at least one of said rows of indicia indicating the months of the year, another of said rows of indicia indicating the days of the week, the remaining rows of indicia indicating the numerals 1-31, all of said indicia portions being transparent;

0. means on said surface defining a plurality of horizontal grooves that are in opposition to said sheet and defining a channel with means for retaining magnetic plates therewithin, each of said grooves being in alignment with one of said rows of indicia;

d. a magnetic plate slidably positioned in each said groove and adapted to be positioned behind selected ones of said indicia on said sheet, the facing surface of each said plate having a colored area thereon whereby said colored area is visable through said selected transparent indicia so as to highlight selected calendar dates; and

e. a magnet external to said support member for moving said plates selectively in said grooves.

support member includes a further surface integral therewith for defining a base whereby said calendar may be placed on a desk or the like.

5. The calendar according to claim 4 wherein said support member defines an angular cross sectional structure. 

1. A perpetual calendar comprising: a. a support member having a forwardly directed surface; b. a substantially opaque sheet in superimposed relation with said surface of said support member, said sheet having several horizontal rows of indicia thereon, at least one of said rows of indicia indicating the months of the year, another of said rows of indicia indicating the days of the week, the remaining rows of indicia indicating the numerals 1-31, all of said indicia portions being transparent; c. means on said surface defining a plurality of horizontal grooves that are in opposition to said sheet and defining a channel with means for retaining magnetic plates therewithin, each of said grooves being in alignment with one of said rows of indicia; d. a magnetic plate slidably positioned in each said groove and adapted to be positioned behind selected ones of said indicia on said sheet, the facing surface of each said plate having a colored area thereon whereby said colored area is visable through said selected transparent indicia so as to highlight selected calendar dates; and e. a magnet external to said support member for moving said plates selectively in said grooves.
 2. The calendar according to claim 1 wherein said opaque sheet further includes an area proximate one end thereof, wherein any of said plates may be concealed.
 3. The calendar according to claim 1 wherein said support member is substantially rectangular and is adapted to be hung on a wall.
 4. The calendar according to claim 1 wherein said support member includeS a further surface integral therewith for defining a base whereby said calendar may be placed on a desk or the like.
 5. The calendar according to claim 4 wherein said support member defines an angular cross sectional structure. 